CWASD News 01/11/2019

For many, a little jolt of morning coffee is just what one needs to get them started for the day. A group of special education students at CWHS has taken that to heart, beginning a student-run business that is not only giving staff members their daily dose of java, but it’s also teaching them life-long skills.

Students in Mrs. Michelle Kloss’ special education class have begun what they call “The Bulldog Bean.” This student-run business is intended to instill a variety of skills within the students that will help better prepare them for life and employment in their future after high school. The Bulldog Bean sells coffee and hot chocolate to teachers, with hopes of eventually expanding to students and adding options to their cart.

According to Kloss, through their business, students hope to improve their social skills and better their money handling and financial skills by making change or writing receipts. The students collect orders via an online form, then fill and deliver orders. They are also reading and entering data into spreadsheets, finding needed items at the store, and learning how to take inventory.

The entire process has not only allowed students to gain some new skills, but it’s also increased their visibility and friendships within the school community. For many students, the best part of their day is just getting to see the smiles of their friends and teachers.

“I enjoy delivering the coffee,” says one student, Brandon Hennig. “I love seeing their happy faces when they get it.”

“The thing I enjoy the most about the Bulldog Bean is pushing the cart and delivering coffee to teachers and then filing up the cart at the end of the day,” adds student Izick Anderson. “I like trying to make other teachers’ day. It also makes me feel good to know that our cart is ready for the next day.”

The team of students has also enlisted the help of Mrs. Andrea Worthey’s graphic design class to help bolster the visual presentation of their cart and advertisement throughout the school. This, in turn, has increased the interaction between both groups of students and other staff members.

“It is good for the classes to work together,” notes freshman Lillie Gohde, part of the graphic design class. “I feel the interaction is good because we get more opinions than just from the general class, and it is also good for them because they get more interaction with the general class.”

“It will benefit us by teaching us how to get along and work with everybody,” notes Anna Grotberg, another graphic design student. “And it will benefit them by exposing them to more real-life situations.”

Teachers and staff, too, are enjoying interacting with the students and seeing the skills they are developing with their new business.

“The Bulldog Bean offers more than just great coffee served by a friendly student,” notes Special Education Director, Linda Zeman. “The students are learning ways to strengthen important skills in a unique way. Students are able to create grocery lists, navigate a grocery store, budget money, use computer and writing skills, making eye contact, intimate a conversation, use appropriate social skills when working with customers, follow directions, learn kitchen safety, follow multi-step directives, count money and so much more!”

“I love interacting with students operating The Bulldog Bean every morning when they come in to deliver coffee,” adds Mrs. Kim Ruda. “It is apparent that as time goes on they are becoming more confident and comfortable in having brief conversations as they deliver coffee and punch my card. It is cool to see that happening. I know they are learning valuable life skills while providing a relevant service within the building—and that is something I love supporting.”

As far as Kloss is concerned, the project thus far has been a big success.

“The students have been exposed to new teachers that they may not have otherwise talked to,” Kloss explains. “With this, they’ve noticeably increased their communication skills. I’ve observed an increase in student confidence for both preparing and delivering orders as they get to do this daily. The students are required to clock in and clock out as if it were real employment, and I believe they’ve learned the importance to work efficiently when working on the clock.”

The money the students profit is used to sustain the business and pay for different events that they can attend to gain more skills within the community. They even recently made a donation to the Benjamin House in Rice Lake, and several of the students went there to deliver their donations personally—bringing their community service full circle. The confidence they received from just their small interactions within the building has given them continued courage to take those skills and build friendships not only within the school, but within the local communities.